Nuapada Reviews Social Security Schemes: Collector Stresses Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities and Transgender Community

Nuapada, July 7: A district-level review meeting on various social security schemes implemented under the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Nuapada Collector Madhusudan Dash at the District Collectorate Conference Hall. Welcoming the participants, District Social Security Officer Ananta Kumar Hembram outlined the objectives of the meeting and presented the progress of various welfare schemes being implemented across the district. The review revealed that the department had surveyed 747 migrant families, out of which 131 families were found eligible for different government welfare schemes. So far, 34 families have already received benefits under various programmes. During the current financial year, financial assistance of ₹20,000 each has been sanctioned to 201 beneficiaries under the National Family Benefit Scheme, while 31 applications are currently under consideration. Under the ‘Sweekruti’ Scheme, 104 transgender persons have been identified in the district, of whom 35 are receiving social security pensions. Similarly, under the Widow Assistance Campaign, 18,869 widows have been identified, with 18,583 currently receiving widow pensions. Under the Disability Assistance Campaign, the district has 8,948 pension beneficiaries with disabilities, while 7,117 of them possess ration cards. During the meeting, Collector Madhusudan Dash directed officials to give special emphasis to skill development and vocational training for persons with disabilities and members of the transgender community to help them become self-reliant. He also instructed the concerned departments to ensure that no eligible person with disabilities is deprived of benefits under the Food Security Scheme. The Collector issued a stern warning that strict action would be taken against responsible officials if pension payments continue in the names of deceased beneficiaries, emphasizing the need for regular verification and transparency in beneficiary records. On the occasion, Swapna Barman of Khariar Road was honoured with the ‘Divyang Mitra Award’ in recognition of her contribution towards the welfare of persons with disabilities. The meeting was attended by Sub-Collector Surmi Soren, Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer Dr. Dwarikanath Satpathy, Lead District Manager Harishankar Nial, Sub-Divisional Social Security Officer Smrutirekha Nanda, and senior officials from various government departments.